Chordodes africanus Sciacchitano, 1933

Zanca, Fernanda, Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas, Villalobos, Cristina De & Achiorno, Cecilia, 2006, Revision of the genus Chordodes (Gordiida, Nematomorpha) from Africa. II. Ultrastructural redescription of C. africanus Sciacchitano, 1933, C. hawkeri Camerano 1902; C. sandoensis, Sciacchitano 1937; C. schoutedeni, Sciacchitano 1933 and reinterpretation of Chordodes butensis Sciacchitano, 1937, Zootaxa 1191 (1191), pp. 49-59 : 50-51

Chordodes africanus Sciacchitano, 1933

( Figures. 1 A­1D)

1933. Chordodes africanus Sciacchitano Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 24: 52.

Holotype: 1 male (AMT 1404)

Type locality: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sankuru, Kondué

Host: Indeterminate Mantid ( Sciacchitano 1961)

Material examined: Holotype. SEM midbody and LM posterior end.

Description: The body colour is dark brown. Body length is 123mm, diameter in the middle region 1mm. The posterior end ( Fig. 1A) is round, with the indication of two lobe­ like structures and a ventral groove. The cloacal opening is oval. Anterolateral of the cloacal opening are paired regions in which numerous bristles are located (bristlefields).

The cuticle contains three types of areoles distributed all over the cuticle ( Fig. 1B). Simple areoles ( Fig. 1C) are the most abundant, they are low (5µm), oval (4.9­ 11.9µm) with an irregular shape and the apical surface is structured with wart­like structures and minutes bristles, among these are bulging areoles of the same shape but arranged forming clusters of two, three or four areoles ( Fig. 1C). Bulging areoles are higher (8.2µm) than simple areoles. The crowned areoles ( Fig. 1D) are conical, elevated (12µm) and with short filaments on top. They are arranged in groups of about 28 and 35 areoles. The interareolar groove is narrow and crossed by cuticular transversal cords which appear to connect the base of the areoles.

Dimensions: The holotype is 123mm long and 1mm in diameter. According to Sciacchitano (1961) 1 male measures 112mm in length and 1mm in width. Other male specimen (see [ Chordodes butensis ]) is 160mm long and 1mm in diameter ( Sciacchitano 1937).

Comments: Sciacchitano [1933] describes C. africanus from a specimen which he interprets as a female but Sciacchitano [1958] mentions again this specimen as a male. Taking into account that the measures of this specimen, the collection date and the collector´s name correspond, it is assumed that this report of 1958 is a repetition of the 1933 report. Our reinvestigation confirms that the holotype of C. africanus is a male (see Fig. 1A). Sciacchitano [1933] describes the cuticle of C. africanus with two areolar types but crowned areoles are not among the areoles described. In 1958, Sciacchitano re described the cuticle. He mentioned and drew three areoles types: simple areoles, bulging areoles and crowned areoles with the same characteristics observed in our reinvestigation.

Distribution: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sankuru, Kondué (1male, Sciacchitano 1933); Angola, Dundo (1male, Sciacchitano 1961). Democratic Republic of the Congo, Buta (1male, as C. butensis, Sciacchitano 1937 , see below).